Improvement in construction of buildings



W. J. MURDEN.

Construction of Buildings.

No, 135,044, Patentedian.2i,i873.

FIQH.

7AM. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHIC 0o. Mx(asaamlsls mac-ass) UNITED STATES) PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. MORDEN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,044, dated January 21, 1873- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. MoRDnN, of the city of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain Improvements in the Construction of Buildings'-for making each story a water-tight compartment, so that the joists thereof will be protected from fire above, and the water used in extinguishing the flames may be carried off without finding its way down into the story beneath-of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention consists in the use of a metallic or other fire-proof corrugated or pan-shaped covering for the upper face of the joists and interposed between the floor and the joists of buildings in such a manner as to receive and carry off water or other fluids and prevent the passage thereof down through the flooring, thereby protecting the plastering beneath and effectually preventing damage to the lower apartments; it consists, also, in the employment of auxiliary timbers, running parallel with or across the joist and resting on the metallic plate or bottom of the pan, over each joist, to serve as secondary joists, to which the flooring is nailed or otherwise secured; thus injury by perforating the metallic fire-proof plate or waterreceivers is guarded against.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section through the side walls of a building and through the flooring and ceiling,

illustrating one form of securing themetallic water-receiver in position between the joist and the flooring, also showing the application of the timbers to which the flooring is secured. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through two joists to illustrate one manner of securing the receivers between each joist where the flooring rests upon the joist and is secured thereto in the usual way. Fig. 3 is a section in lineman, Fig. 1, showing the manner of carrying off the water passing into the receivers. Fig. 4 is a section through the joist, showing the use of a pan arranged to rest upon the joist and intended to extend over the entire surface beneath the flooring, with the secondary joists, to which the flooring is secured, supported upon the bottom of the pan or receiver. Fig. 5 illustrates one way of uniting the metallic plates to form a continuous series of receivers between the joists, as shownin Fig. l of the drawing. Fig. 6 is a view, showing another way of securing the receivers to the joists where the flooring is secured to the main joist, as in Fig. 2.

G represents the walls of a building, which support, in the usual way, the joist D. A series of metal plates, A, united in such a mannerv as to be water-tight, are interposed between the joist and flooring to form a coveringfor the joist, and, depending between them, constitute a series of receivers and conveyers for such fluids as pass down through the floor ing 0, which latter may be secured to intermediate timbers B, placed over and resting upon the receivers, as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing. The water-receivers A are furnished with orifices or pipes a, leading outside of the walls, to serve the purpose of ventilating the receivers as well as for car rying off the water therein, and thus prevent its passage down through the plastering E. The upper rim or projection A of the pan or receiver A should be extended the required height around and above the floor to insure against the overflow of water should it be ex pedient to stop the outlets a, and thereby retain the water to be utilized for extinguishing and arresting the spread of the flames.

The principal object of this invention is to supply the requisite means of securing goods from damage by flooding when stored beneath the story in which the fire originates, as the water used for extinguishing fire in the upper story or stories of a building frequently occasions as much loss to the stock stored beneath as if consumed entire.

I contemplate using any fire-proof material for making the receivers or pans A, and interposing them between the joists and the flooring, either joined together, so as to form a continuous surface over and between the j oists, or on top thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, or having them sectional and securing them in any substantial manner to the joist, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawing.

Where other material than metal is employed for the receivers A, I contemplate using a reliable fire-proof cement for a coating, and even when metal is used giving it the required coatsecondary joist B, flooring O, and main joist ing to insure against rust and leakage. D, substantially as and for the purpose described.

almms- 3. The combination of the receivers A, the

I claimjoists, the flooring, and the outlet a, substan- 1. The watertight fire -proof receiver A tially as described, for the purpose specified. placed between the flooring O and the joist D,

substantially as and for the purpose herein In the presence ofspecified. JNO. S. HETHERINGTON,

2. The combination of the receivers A, the R. TOUSEY.

W. J. MORDEN. 

